MyxTape

1. Prototype link (Please submit a link to a playable prototype, not a link to your design file) https://www.figma.com/proto/dK8hcRMC2DpkCdJFqrwWls/Rice-Designathon?node-id=1-2&t=3fpgVUqbyOaG8ozn-1&scaling=scale-down&content-scaling=fixed&page-id=0%3A1&starting-point-node-id=1%3A2&show-proto-sidebar=1

2. Describe your project (max 150 words) MyxTape is a digital platform where users can record personal audio messages alongside their favorite songs to create a personalized old-school mixtape style journal entry. Users can document their thoughts, pair entries with songs, and add voice memos between tracks for a personal touch—creating playlists in the form of old-school mixtapes with human narration. Users can choose to keep their journals private or share entries with a global community, gaining insight into different lives and perspectives. The platform integrates with Spotify for seamless playlist creation. Myxtape is about more than music—it’s about connection, emotion, and preserving memories through sound.

3. Describe your research process and findings. If you conducted any surveys or interviews, please include the survey form and/or interview questions here. If you conducted secondary research by pulling from online sources, please include a link to your sources. (Max 500 words) Our research process started by identifying a shared interest in music, nostalgia, and personal storytelling, leading us to explore the significance of mixtapes and their role in emotional expression. Through secondary research, we examined the evolution of mixtapes, the rise of digital journaling, and the use of AI in music curation. We found that while AI-generated playlists are common, they often lack the human touch that made traditional mixtapes meaningful. To validate our idea, we conducted a survey asking participants about their music-listening/journaling habits, emotional connections to songs, and interest in a journaling platform that integrates music and voice recordings. Our findings showed that most participants strongly associate music with emotions and memories, and many use music as a form of self-expression. While some respondents journaled occasionally, others preferred alternative outlets like talking to friends, creating art, or listening to music. Many respondents were intrigued by the idea of a digital journal with voice narration and mixtape-style playlists, though some expressed concerns about privacy when it came to sharing personal journal entries. This highlighted the importance of designing the platform with privacy controls, allowing users to decide how much they share. Using these insights, we moved into the design phase, beginning with drafts and mockups for each screen to ensure an intuitive user experience. We focused on a retro-inspired aesthetic, drawing from vintage cassette tape designs, handwritten notes, and nostalgic color palettes. Once the drafts were finalized, we transitioned to Figma to create a high-fidelity prototype, refining the interface to reflect the seamless integration of journaling, music, and voice narration. Our goal was to develop a platform that merges music, journaling, and storytelling—prioritizing human connection over AI-driven curation while ensuring users have full control over their personal experiences.

Survey Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeOtBYf1HOgbyIyOPxjU2IJUzQ70Rht4jvOr2PgOAm5Wlah6Q/viewform?usp=header

1. Describe your most important design decisions. What research findings and/or user testing results led you to make these decisions? (Max 500 words) Our most important design decisions were shaped by insights gathered from our primary research and user feedback. One key finding from our survey was that while many users were interested in sharing their journal entries and mixtapes, others felt that doing so could be a breach of personal space. To address this, we implemented privacy options, allowing users to post anonymously or keep entries completely private. This ensures users can engage with the platform in a way that feels comfortable and secure. Another significant finding was that a large portion of participants rarely or never journaled, mainly due to the effort required for writing and the challenge of knowing what to write about. To encourage engagement, we introduced reflection prompts—guiding questions or themes that give users something to think about and record. This feature helps remove the pressure of coming up with entries on their own and makes the journaling process feel more natural and intuitive. For our next steps, we would focus on further personalization to enhance the user experience. One idea we plan to implement is color-coded mixtapes, where users can assign colors to their mixtape bands based on mood or theme. This feature will help users quickly identify and organize their playlists while adding a creative, visually appealing element. Additionally, we aim to introduce a dark and light mode option, allowing users to customize the app's interface based on their comfort and aesthetic preferences. These personalization features will give users greater control over their experience and make the platform feel more tailored to their needs. While considering future features, we decided to leave out the option to delete or archive mixtapes for now. This decision was made to encourage users to reflect on their past experiences rather than erase them. However, we plan to revisit this option based on further user feedback. All of these decisions were driven by user insights to ensure that the platform is accessible, customizable, and respects personal boundaries while fostering self-expression and connection through music and storytelling.

Built With

• figma